Abstract:

Objective:
This study aimed to investigate the interrelations among distinct personality traits exhibited by university students in the Czech Republic, with a specific emphasis on the role of self-esteem in their developmental trajectory.

Method:
The research cohort comprised 109 participants, selected via multi-stage sampling methodology. The authors performed correlation and regression analyses, employing variables derived from the NEO-FFI five-factor personality questionnaire and Gordon’s Personal Profile Inventory (GPP-I) to investigate proposed hypotheses.

Results:
The results validated statistically significant associations between self-esteem and neuroticism. The study investigated the relationships between Gordon’s Personal Profile Inventory (GPP-I) and the NEO-FFI questionnaire with participants' age and duration of university enrollment. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used for analysis. Results from the NEO-FFI questionnaire showed positive correlations between agreeableness and conscientiousness with duration of university enrollment (p<.01), while neuroticism and openness displayed negative correlations (p<.05). A particularly strong correlation was found between conscientiousness and respondents' age (r=.508, p<.01). Initial bivariate analysis indicated significant negative correlations between neuroticism and most variables of the GPP-I questionnaires, notably with self-esteem (r=-.453, p<0.01). Further investigation involved evaluating the predictive validity of NEO FFI personality factors on self-esteem using multiple regression analysis. Variable selection was performed using the Stepwise method, including only variables with a p-value less than .05. The third model considered, comprising neuroticism, openness to experience, and conscientiousness, explained the largest proportion of variance (30.7%, R²).

Conclusion:
Individuals with elevated levels of self-esteem often exhibit traits associated with extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to novel experiences. Our findings imply that factors such as the age and duration of university enrollment among respondents may mediate these relationships. Furthermore, the study provides suggestions for enhancing the future development of students.

Keywords:

Self-esteem, personality traits, university students, development, neuroticism.